Aussies don't want to be trapped in Cup semi circle

Australia's players have declared they don't want any more World Cup lessons from semi-final defeats, as they eye off a shot at defending their ODI crown in India.

The reigning champions received a massive boost on Tuesday, with captain Alyssa Healy getting through training unscathed in her bid to play in Thursday's semi-final against India.

Healy has not played since straining her calf 10 days ago, but is now on track to play in the do-or-die semi-final against the tournament hosts.

Semi-finals have not always been kind to Australia, instead going down as seminal moments in the team's development over the past decade.

When they were shocked by Harmanpreet Kaur and India in the 2017 ODI semi-final, it prompted a heavier focus on change-up bowling and swinging momentum.

Australia won every major trophy available to them from that point on until last year, when they were again stunned by South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi-final.

That defeat forced Australia to look at their batting, demanding a more ruthless attacking game and a desire to no longer leave runs in the sheds.

"We're competitive, we want to win. But when it doesn't pan out that way, it kind of pushes us to look at our game and improve," Beth Mooney told AAP.

"I think everyone has really bought into that. We saw it in the Ashes at the start of the year.

"You can see the evolution of everyone's games and this team.

"So hopefully it is another five years before any of the stuff that happened at that T20 World Cup happens again."

Not that Australia believe it should still take a World Cup defeat for the team to move forward.

"People always talk about you learning the most from your failures. That probably rings true," star allrounder Ellyse Perry said.

"It's human nature that until you get one of those deep cuts that sting a lot, you probably can't quite see with clarity where you will be better.

"But I hope the mentality we have adopted over the past few years is that we can search for that on our own and hold ourselves to account.

"You appreciate that you can learn from things when they don't go right, but I hope as a group we're pushing and exploring to find out things about ourselves without that."

If Healy does return, Australia will get a noted big-game performer back for when it matters most.

The 35-year-old scored a century in the final of the last ODI World Cup against New Zealand in 2022, and back-to-back tons in this one before her calf strain.

Healy would be expected to take the gloves back from Mooney if she does return in Mumbai, while replacing Georgia Voll at the top of the order.

"She's certainly an X-factor with the bat. We have seen her change different games in different moments throughout her career," Mooney said.

"I'm sure Thursday will be no different."